Two Thousand Fourteen

 

This year has been particularly eventful, I realized while putting the annual roundup together. Lots of travel, a bunch of weddings, tons of fun! It all started in January when it finally snowed and Jamie got a lot of use out of his new snow racer.

Then, Rio was born! Brand new humans are the most exciting thing, I think we can all agree.

In February, I made my dreams come true, first by getting a professional makeup consultation...

...and then when I joined a choir again.

In March, we enjoyed the annual Melodifestivalen festivities, complete with the live show and visit from friends and family from England. 

In April, this guy was the cutest thing ever...

...and we took advantage of the warming weather by geocaching around Molsta with the Segerstens. 

May was all about Selah and Andy's visit! We spent a whole week seeing all the best sights in and around Stockholm and really enjoying some quality face time. 

In June, we celebrated Sweden's national day with friends at a picnic and carnival. 

Then I flew to Ohio for a long weekend and married some of my best friends. Spending this time with the Cleveland girlfriends was beyond magical.

Oh, and hanging with this lady was pretty much the best, too. 

Back just in time for Sweden's warmest month, we set off on an awesome July vacation!  

First, we took a long weekend in Dalarna with lots of pool time, a classic car show, and a concert at Dalhalla.

Then we spent the rest of the week along the west coast, with friends in Göteborg and then on the beach in Tylösand. 

Also in July, Jamie turned three! We celebrated with a superhero birthday party and invited lots of friends. 

In August, Jamie reached an important milestone in his life when he attended his first AIK football match.

We also took a super fun, last minute cruise to Helsinki.

September was a big month for us. We flew to Montana for the first time in four years and got to spend time with far-flung family in a beautiful setting. Grandpa Ray was there...

...as well as my sister Lukia and her daughter Hayden. We had a blast at Lukia's wedding to her new husband Don.

I got to see some of the most beautiful old spots, here with two of my favorites.

Plus I finally got to introduce Jambo to his Opa and Grandma Rainey!

As soon as we had recovered from the jet lag from the Montana trip, we were off again, this time to England to celebrate cousin Annemor and Matt's wedding.

By October we were ready to take it easy. Jamie, Linda, Sukai and I enjoyed a little theater and the opening of our community's new cultural center. 

And Jamie had his first official, big boy dentist appointment.

In November, we took a little road trip to Kalmar with a stop off in Söderköping...

...and had a traditional Thanksgiving dinner with friends.

In December, we made the most of Sweden's coziest month by decorating the house more than ever for Christmas, including the lovely gingerbread houses we constructed with Linda and her girls.

It's not a competition or anything, but this year was surely one of my favorites. Top that, 2015!